The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-26
MODEL
ABlJAH BRENTS EISERY.
Driven to Suicide by the Disgrace Brought
Upon Him by His Young and Unfaithful Wife.


BINGHAMToN, n. T., Jan. 25-Three or four |
years ago farmer aged sixty years, named |
Abijah Brent, living near the Pennsylvania |
border. below this city, was married to Martha |
Pennell, who was not then twenty years old. 1t
was supposed by the young women and by the
people of this locality generally that Brent was
possessed Of considerable money, out his wife
learned soon after the marriage that he was not
worth dollar, his property being heavily mort
gagged. The marriage was not followed by
domestic happiness. Mrs. Brent was one of the
prettiest girls in the community where she
lived. Her parents were poor. Brent and his
young wife did not separate. Notwithstanding
the infelicity of their married life. Two years
ago the old mans farm was sold under fore
closure proceedings, and soon afterward he and
his wife moved to Indiana, where it seems, he
succeeded in purchasing small farm, on which
was a valuable tract of walnut timber. three
miles from the small village of Cristville. For a
rear past nothing had been heard of Brent and
his young wife by any of their old Pennsylvania
ueighbors. Three weeks ago Mrs. Brent ap-
beared at her former home. She was elegantly
dressed and was accompanied by fine-looking
man, who was introduced by her as her husband,
George Tyler She said that Brent had died
a second time, and was then on her wedding
tour which was to include trip to Europe, her
husband being man OF means. The couple re-
naa're6 at the woman's fathers three dafs, and
then took their departure and nothing has been
heard from them since. The news of Abijah
Brents death and the return of bis widow with
ricn husband was announced in local paper
week before last. Charles Rogers, a cousin of
Brent's. who is a travelling salesman for q New
York house and lives in that city. happened to
be in a neighhorine village and read the an
nouncement of Brent's death in the paper He
went at once to bis cousins old home, and there
produced q letter which he bad received from
Brent and which had been written and mailed
only the day before Christmas Rogers went to
the Indiana village, and, according to a letter
eeived from him By friend In Susquehanna
county found strangely complicated and mys
tprious case. For year or more, Mrs. Brents
relations with prominent citizen Of Cristville,
of the name of Coverdale. had been source OF
great scandal in the community. Coverdale
was a merchant, and had invalid wife and
Axe chssrsa. He and Mrs. Brent were much
togetha-. Eefore the holidays he began to sell
out the goods in his store by auction, and added
nothing to his stock. The day following New
Years the store was not opened and Coverdale
was not seen in town. Nothing could be learned
as to his whereabouts. Brents farm
unfrequented road, and his nearest neigh Dor lived
two miles away Between Christmas and New
Years he had sold his walnut timber for nearly
$4G0, ard received the money. friend Of his,
who was at his house the day before New Years,
day. in Brents bedroom. Two or three days
after the strarse disappearance of Coverdale, a
resident of Cristyille drove out to Brent's
farm to see the old man about the purchase
of horse. The house was locked, and
the whole place had deserted appearance.
horse and cow in the barn showed plainly that
they had not been fed for several days. Feeling
that something was wrong with Brent the Wis
itor summoned others and broke into the house.
Everything was in order Brent's clothing was
ia his bedroom. but no trace of him could be
found anywhere about the premises. The
bureau drawer where Brent's friend declared the
$46G on Friday was open and the money
wps gone 1t was evident that the house had
been without occupants for some time That
Cnverdale and Mrs. Brent had eloped no one
doubted, bus they executed their plans so clev-
ely that not the slightest cew could be found
that would give any indication to the direc-
tion they had taken 1t was believed that they
had put the womans husband out of the way
and taken his money wish them, but
while the old mans death was neces-
,s~Sary to their success the plans Of
the runaways could no. be made clear
week after the discovery made at Brsnts
farm the unusual sight, at this time of the
year, of flock of crows lowering about piece
OF woods the farm two miles from Brent's
was noticed by boy named Willie Compton
He went out with his gun to shoot at the crows
which seemed to gather in one particular spot
and cav in q curious manner The crows flew
further away the boy entered the woods. and
as he followed them up, he came suddenly upon
Inc QeaQ Douy OF q man hanging Dy the neck
from the lower branch of big walnut tree The
boy hurried from the woods and alarmed mon on
the farm. They went to the tree and recoc.
pized the body as that of the missing farmer
Brent A justice of the peace was summoned,
and the body was cut down and an inquest held.
The dead mans head bare and his
feet were covered by an old pair of shoes, but
40 stockings In the pocket of an old farm coat
which the dead man had was found piece
Of paper, on which was written: ~ can't stand
the disgrace" The writing closely resembled
that Of the dead man, and the gen.
eral impression seemed to be .hat the old
man had hanged himself on discovering his
wife's guilty flight and robbery of all he had in
thc world. There were no marks of violence on
the body. but DR.. Ford, who made post-mor-
tenn examination. gave it as his opinion that
death had not resulted from hanging but that
the man was dead when hanged to the tree In
spite of that testimony, however, the Jury re
turned verdict Of suicide. AS one seemed
disposed to make further investigation in the
mysterious case, the body was buried. Brent'i
cousin Rogers accepts the suicide theory as he
loula gee no motive in either Brents wife OF
Coverdale committing murder to either rob oil
run AWAY from Brent. Coverdale is an English
man. lie had between three and four Thousand
loiars as the proceeds OF the sale of his store
l0ods, and leaves creditors IN the lnrch to the